Saturday, May 19, 2012

My Everyday Face Routine.

My Everyday Face Routine

This post isn't really supposed to be hugely informative, but I thought it would be a fun post to quickly go through my typical day makeup. My routine is never really "solid" as I change up products from day to day, otherwise I'd never get through any of my products.

On a daily basis I keep my eyes very simple. The colors always change, but what stays the same is that I always apply MAC Brule all over my lids as a base and smudge color across my top and bottom lashline, followed with lots of mascara.

I'll be doing individual posts on application technique (how to apply concealer, blush, bronzer, etc) because I'd like to explain in detail, rather than briefly in a quick tutorial.

The first step is always starting out with a completely clean and moisturized face. I rarely ever use a primer, as I feel that my skin doesn't necessarily need one.

I then start by applying my concealer to the area under my eyes, underneath my brow (to conceal any redness or brow stubble) and around my nose. I usually use the "triangle method" which refers to applying the concealer in an upside down triangle shape, rather than a half-circle. It gives the illusion of wide awake eyes and added definition to the cheeks.

Moving onto foundation. I always give the bottle a good shake to make sure the product is mixed, and I apply a dime-sized dot of foundation on each of my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. Then, with a stippling brush and a light-hand, blend each area of my face in small circular motions. I sometimes spend up to a minute blending to ensure that there are no harsh edges.

For my brows, I'm using my favorite eyebrow pencil called 'MAC Eye Brows'. I lightly follow the shape of my natural brow, coloring the sparse areas with small, quick strokes. To blend the product together and to soften any harsh lines, I go over my brows with a spoolie (clean mascara wand).

I always wait a couple of minutes for my foundation to properly dry before applying a setting powder. Most of the time I apply my setting powder with my favorite Sigma F30 Powder Brush. I love Guerlain Meteorites because it never looks cakey or powdery and it gives my skin a natural radiance. All I do is dab my brush in the pot and swirl the brush all over my face in small, circular motions. I use a little more pressure than I do when I apply my foundation, to ensure it's really buffed in my skin.

Next up is bronzer, blush and highlighter. I always apply bronzer first, starting in the hollows of my cheeks (the hollow space under the cheekbones), blending it up to my temples and into my hair line. I continue around the outline of my face. I love this bronzing powder from Becca because it's sheer, but buildable, blends easily and never looks harsh.

Usually I only apply my highlighter along the top of my cheekbones, but with this particular product, since it acts as a highlighter and blush, I like adding it to the apples of my cheeks (normally where I'd apply blush). The pinkish glow instantly makes my skin look plump and radiant. I always apply this using a stippling brush.

Next up is blush. Because Nars Dolce Vita is a very pigmented blush, I always use a stippling brush so I don't make the mistake of applying too much color. I lightly brush this on the apples of my cheeks. If I applied too much, I'll usually blend out the edges with my foundation brush.

Now, I apply MAC Brule all over my lids using a tapered blending brush. It's a light, sheer beige that doesn't provide much color, but it helps even out the tone of my lids and it absorbs any natural oils from my eyelids/foundation, creating a blank, even canvas for my colored eyeshadow.

With a small pencil/crease brush, I smudge MAC Club along my top and bottom lashline. I usually only apply the color half-way across my lashline for a more natural look.

To deepen the color a little bit, I've added MAC Nehru with an angled brush to the same area where I applied Club.

I then curl my lashes very tight, apply Shiseido Mascara Base (I can't live without it!) and a few coats of Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara.

*I'm still working on the lighting situation for FOTD's, I haven't done any since I've had my new camera because the camera really washes me out. I'm actually pretty tan right now, and in these photos, I look much lighter.

hi, love all your posts!!!! i was wondering if you have any kind of idea what kind of foundation and blusher i should wear to look like cheryl cole??? please help!! thankyou (if you reply, reply back here and i'll check back) thanks

Natty, I want to say thanks for reccomending the real techniques duo fiber stipp brush. I use it to apply my estee lauder double wear and I love it. It gives a flawless look and thats what I have been looking for. So again thanks!

I'm so happy you like the Real Techniques brush. It's such a good brush - I love that it's dense, but not overly dense (still has some softness), the size isn't too small or overly large, so you can really get to small areas with it and it does an overall fantastic job! Thanks so much for the feedback!

You are so stunning! Alas, your coloring is soooo different from mine, but I love your suggestions nonetheless! Could you please tell me which Guerlain Meteorites powder you use? (The number or name?) Thank you!

Love this look, your foundation looks flawless, not cakey at all like a blogger mentioned. I especially love that lip color on you. I'm also obsessed w/ that necklace! Where did you get it if you don't mind me asking?

You're welcome! Aw, thank you.. I really appreciate it. I have been fussing over the lighting for a while now. I can't seem to get it right yet. I have to do a little research and see how I can get pictures to go smoothly without having to invest as much time.

Your routine looks awesome, but I don't have that much time in the mornings. But your step by step pictures are really nice because they actually let us see what you do and how you do it :) I usually use Eye Majic Instant Eyeshadow because it takes like a minute to apply and it's really pretty :)

I enjoyed reading this post. The colors you used really compliment your hair color and the tone of your skin. You look great! I'm getting in the habbit of applying makeup daily and I really like your eye shadow tip. Thanks for sharing!

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Hi! I'm Natty and this is my little space where I like to ramble about all things beauty. I love to obsess over all of the latest products in beauty and write about my thoughts here! I hope you enjoy reading!